In a powerful and timely conversation, I join Andrew Swinand, CEO of Inspired Thinking Group and former CEO of Publicis Creative and Leo Burnett Group, on the Inspired Thinking podcast to explore one of the most urgent questions of our time: how do we lead with intention, empathy, and creativity in an age increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence?
This dynamic episode of Inspired Thinking goes far beyond typical business talk. Instead, it opens a window into what leadership must become if we’re to not only keep up with technological disruption but channel it for the betterment of society, our industries, and ourselves. View here.
Reinventing Leadership for the AI Era
At the heart of the conversation is my blueprint for reimagining leadership in a world where machine intelligence is rapidly transforming how we work, create, and connect. Drawing from my latest book, The Tao of Leadership: Harmonizing Technological Innovation and Human Creativity in the AI Era, I call for a shift from transactional management to intentional leadership rooted in human values.
“Technology will manage itself. The question is: how will leaders manage the humans who remain -- and how will they bring out their full creative potential?”
Rather than framing AI as a threat, I position it as an amplifier of creativity, empathy, and ingenuity -- but only if leaders are willing to evolve. “We’re at an inflection point where the most valuable skills are no longer technical. They’re emotional, intuitive, and relational. The irony of the AI era is that it’s making us rediscover what makes us uniquely human.”
From Performance to Purpose
Andrew and I share a mutual understanding that the old playbook no longer works. A leader known for bringing heart and insight into the corporate world, Andrew guides the discussion toward the changing role of purpose in business. I believe “the leaders of the future will be those who are able to stand in discomfort, guide others through uncertainty, and build cultures that invite curiosity, not just compliance.”
We challenge corporate inertia head-on. “Many CEOs have grown immune to the need for transformation because of past tech hype cycles -- blockchain, crypto, NFTs -- that didn’t pan out. But AI is different. This is not incremental; it’s exponential. The change will be faster, deeper, and more disruptive than anything we've experienced. And it’s already happening.”
The Responsibility of Influence
A recurring theme in the conversation is the responsibility media and advertising leaders bear in shaping societal narratives. Media is not just a reflection of culture -- it’s a driver of it. With machine intelligence increasingly influencing creative output, audience engagement, and business decisions, the stakes for intentionality are higher than ever.
“Media has always been a force multiplier,” I note. “Now that force is supercharged. We must ask not only what we can do with AI, but what we should do.”
The conversation also touches on diversity, sustainability, and inclusion -- not as boxes to check, but as cornerstones of resilient organizations. I emphasize that inclusive leadership is not optional in the AI era. “Cultural intelligence is business intelligence. And creativity, when fueled by diverse perspectives, is the one resource that grows the more we invest in it.”
An Invitation to the Curious
The episode is filled with takeaways for anyone navigating the complexities of AI, leadership, and creativity -- from C-suite executives and agency leaders to rising professionals and lifelong learners. We offer both a sobering assessment and an empowering call to action: “This isn’t about predicting the future. It’s about inventing it -- together.”
The Inspired Thinking podcast lives up to its name, delivering not only insights but inspiration. For those seeking a human-centered compass to navigate a technology-dominated future, this conversation is a must-listen.
👉 Listen to the full conversation here: https://inspiredthinking.group/inspired-thinking-episode-3/
And to explore more ideas from Jack Myers, visit The Myers Report and MediaVillage, where the future of media, leadership, and creativity is being written every day.